A runway safety system designed to monitor aircraft and vehicle movement failed to warn air traffic controllers before a fatal collision between an Air Canada jet and an airport fire vehicle at New York City’s LaGuardia Airport, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The incident occurred late Sunday night shortly after the aircraft, arriving from Montreal, landed at approximately 11:45 p.m. The plane, operated by Jazz Aviation, was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members when it struck a rescue and firefighting vehicle responding to another aircraft on the runway.
Both pilots, Captain Antoine Forest and First Officer Mackenzie Gunther, were killed in the crash. At least 41 people were transported to hospitals with injuries. Among them was flight attendant Solange Tremblay, who was ejected from the aircraft and suffered leg fractures. Her daughter described her survival as a “miracle” in comments to Canadian media.
Preliminary flight data indicates the aircraft was traveling between 93 and 105 miles per hour at the time of impact.
The NTSB confirmed that the airport’s surface monitoring system did not generate an alert. According to NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, the system was unable to reliably track the fire vehicle because it lacked a transponder. While not mandatory, such equipment is used at some airports to enhance tracking accuracy.
Homendy explained that the system also struggled due to complex vehicle movements near the runway, which prevented it from forming a clear, high-confidence track.
At the time of the collision, two air traffic controllers were present in the control tower, consistent with standard midnight shift procedures at LaGuardia. Although fatigue has been a concern in previous investigations involving overnight shifts, officials say there is no evidence so far that it played a role in this case.
Investigators are reviewing cockpit voice recordings to determine whether the pilots were aware of the vehicle’s presence. They are also examining the actions of the fire crew, including whether the vehicle attempted to stop or change direction before the collision.
The NTSB has outlined a timeline from the aircraft’s final minutes, including communications in which the fire truck requested and received clearance to cross the runway, as well as subsequent instructions from the tower to halt.
Authorities are also looking into operational details surrounding an air traffic control shift change earlier that evening. Homendy noted that the controller on duty remained in position for several minutes after the crash, an unusual situation that is now under review.
“Major aviation accidents rarely result from a single failure,” Homendy said, emphasizing that multiple breakdowns typically contribute to such incidents. She added that aviation safety relies on layered systems designed to prevent precisely these types of events.
Passengers described a sudden and forceful stop moments before impact. One traveler said emergency exits were quickly opened, allowing several people to evacuate onto the wing before being guided to safety by emergency responders.
Operations at LaGuardia were suspended for more than 12 hours following the crash, with flights gradually resuming Monday afternoon. The affected runway is expected to remain closed until Friday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Source: abc NEWS
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